After the nearly three years of remote and/or hybrid working, learning and teaching as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown restrictions, this weekend’s welcoming ceremony will be the first in-person address since pre-pandemic days.
“We are extremely excited to be able to physically host an in-person welcoming ceremony after nearly three years of virtual interaction,” said Senior Director: Communication and Marketing, Ms Chantal Janneker.
“We look forward to welcoming all our students – returning and new – to the new academic year, and trust that their experience at Mandela University will be a positively life-changing one with memories and teachings that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”
The Vice-Chancellor’s welcoming ceremony will be preceded by a series of virtual welcoming addresses by the Executive Deans of each of the seven faculties, offering faculty-based information to attendant first year students and their guardians.
The Deans’ virtual welcome addresses will take place as follows:
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Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences: Tuesday, 31 January, at 17:30
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Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology: Wednesday, 01 February, at 17:30
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Faculty of Health Sciences: Wednesday, 01 February, at 19:00
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Faculty of Humanities: Thursday, 02 February, at 17:30
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Faculty of Law: Thursday, 02 February, at 19:00
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Faculty of Science: Friday, 03 February, at 17:30
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Faculty of Education: Friday, 03 February, at 19:00
The Deans’ welcoming addresses will take the format of a webinar, streamed via the University’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@NelsonMandelaUniversity), with the Faculty of Science also inviting their new students to an in-person meet-and-greet at the Inkanyezi Auditorium (Building 127) on South Campus.
The University’s George Campus, based in the Southern Cape, will hold their welcoming ceremony virtually on Friday, 03 February, at 19:00.
Information on the respective faculty and George Campus sessions can be accessed via the dedicated Academic Welcoming Events page on https://www.mandela.ac.za/General/Academic-Welcoming-Events.
The Vice-Chancellor’s in-person welcome address will take place as follows:
Date: 04 February 2023
Time: 10:00
Venue: Madibaz Indoor Centre, South Campus.
“First year students and their guardians are encouraged to attend both the faculty-specific, as well as the institutional welcoming ceremony,” said Ms Janneker.
While orientation as part of the First-Year Success programme is already underway, in-person orientation will also start on Saturday, 4 February.
